Health Insurance for Full-Time Students - University Health Service

Student Health Program
University Insurance Criteria
UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna)
Online Health Insurance Process: Spring 2025 enrollment is now OPEN.

About the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) – click here for more information

All full-time students participate in the Student Health Program, which includes the mandatory health fee and health insurance.

In addition to the mandatory health fee, students must have health insurance to cover services such as diagnostic laboratory tests and x-rays, visits with specialists, surgery, hospitalization, and prescription medication. The University Health Service offers the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna). Check “View Plan Details” for a list of benefits and a list of exclusions. There are no deductibles with this plan. The cost for the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) was $3612 for the 2023-2024 academic year and is $3,720 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Students are required to either enroll in the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) or waive this plan if their health insurance plan meets University Insurance Criteria. All full-time students must complete the Online Health Insurance Process every year to make the insurance selection. Requests to waive the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) may be audited to verify coverage. If the student’s plan does not meet the requirements, the student will be automatically enrolled in the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna). International-based insurance plans often do not meet University criteria. See “Insurance with an International-based Company” below for more information.

If you have questions about health insurance, you can write to the UHS Insurance Advisors at insurance@uhs.rochester.edu.

Completing the Online Health Insurance Process

Every year all full-time students, whether new or returning, must document their health insurance coverage by completing the Online Health Insurance Process during the appropriate open enrollment period. Students who enroll in the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) are enrolled on the plan from August 1 through July 31 (January 31 if graduating in December). Students enrolling in UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) may enroll eligible dependents. The same deadlines apply.

If you have questions about health insurance, please write to the UHS Insurance Advisor at insurance@uhs.rochester.edu.

Open Enrollment Periods:

FALL OPEN ENROLLMENT – June 15 through September 15. Students who will be full-time in the Fall semester must complete the Online Health Insurance Process during the Fall Open Enrollment period (June 15-September 15). If your waiver is not received by July 10, then the health insurance fee will show on your fall tuition billing statement until you complete the online insurance process to waive the insurance. Please Note: Students who will begin their full-time studies before August 1 need to complete the process to enroll or waive the insurance in two steps. Please contact the UHS Insurance Advisors for assistance.
SPRING OPEN ENROLLMENT – November 14 through January 31. Students who begin their full-time studies in January must complete the Online Health Insurance Process during the Spring open enrollment period, which ends on January 31. Access to the Online Insurance Process during this time period is limited to students who are beginning full-time studies in January/February or who are returning to full-time status in the spring semester (i.e., return from study abroad).

If your request to waive is denied, you can appeal the denial or you can enroll in the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna). Appeals must be submitted by September 15 for Fall or by January 31 for Spring enrollees. Contact the UHS Insurance Advisors at insurance@uhs.rochester.edu for assistance.

Please Note: Students who will be studying abroad in the fall semester do not complete the online process during the Fall Open Enrollment period. For more information, check the Health Insurance for Special Programs page.

Failure to complete the Online Health Insurance Process during the appropriate open enrollment period will result in the student being automatically enrolled in the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) and charged for the full year (i.e., August 1 through July 31). Students eligible to enroll during the Spring Open Enrollment Period who do not complete the Online Health Insurance Process by January 31 will be enrolled and charged for the remainder of the year (i.e., January 1-July 31). You will not be allowed to disenroll from the insurance plan during the plan year unless you experience a qualifying life event (See “Changing Your Insurance Status During the Plan Year” below). Enrolling in this way (i.e., not completing the Online Health Insurance Process) is highly discouraged since it could lead to a delay in access to care during the first two months of the plan.

Saving Your Insurance Card on Your Mobile Device

If you are enrolled in the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna), you can save a copy of your insurance card on your mobile device by going to the Aetna Student Health web site and clicking on Get Your ID Card. You will be able to print your card and/or save it digitally. We recommend that you save your card on your mobile device. The instructions on the site will tell how to download the Aetna mobile app to view your ID card on your mobile device. Insurance cards are no longer being mailed to students by Aetna Student Health.

Changing Your Insurance Status During the Plan Year

If you should experience a qualifying life event (e.g., loss of coverage through your parent or spouse, birth of a child, marriage, divorce, or spouse entering the United States mid-year) during the year and want to enroll in the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna), please contact the UHS Insurance Advisor for assistance.

You must complete the Qualifying Life Event Form within 60 days of the qualifying event. Coverage will begin the month after the UHS Insurance Advisor receives the form.
When submitting the Qualifying Life Event Form, you must provide proof of the qualifying life event (i.e., letter from the insurance company, your visa showing your date of entry to the United States, marriage certificate, your child’s birth certificate).

Insurance with an International-based Company

International-based plans often do not meet University Insurance Criteria for waiver. For this reason, we recommend checking the University Insurance Criteria carefully before deciding to purchase insurance from an international-based company. Your plan must meet all of the University Insurance Criteria to qualify for waiver of the University-sponsored insurance plan.

Health Insurance for Specific Student Groups

Optional Student Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage

Continuing for the 2024-2025 academic year (August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025) Aetna is offering additional add-on coverage which students can elect to enroll in for dental and/or vision coverage. Information about the additional coverage can be found here under the 2024-2025 plan documents and benefits. Students interested in enrolling can do so here.

Vision and Dental Care

The student plan does not cover routine vision or dental care. Adding vision and dental care benefits to the UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) would significantly increase the cost for the insurance plan. The UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) covers care for illness, accident, or injury to eyes and injury with damage to previously sound, natural teeth (up to $1,000/plan year).

Routine Vision Care: The Flaum Eye Institute in the UR Medical Center offers comprehensive eye care and optical support at several locations nearby.

Routine Dental Care: In the U.S., routine dental care is usually covered by a separate dental plan. The Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH) on Elmwood Avenue by the UR Medical Center offers a Student Dental Plan for full-time students. The open enrollment period is from September 1 through October 31. Check the EIOH website for information about the plan and an application form.

The Eastman Institute for Oral Health offers comprehensive dental care. You do not need to enroll in the Student Dental Plan to use the services offered by the Eastman Institute for Oral Health. An option for routine teeth cleanings at a very low cost is the Dental Hygiene Clinic at Monroe Community College, which is located on East Henrietta Road.